TP Link Review

This is a review for one of the TP Link WirelessFor You, The Rest You Would Already Know)
USB Adapters currently available in North America.- You Are Connected, And You Can Stop Here,
I bought this after having issues with anotherOr If You Want Windows To Manage Your
Wireless USB Adapter, it would drop connection atNetwork Follow The Below Steps
least a couple of times a day, which to those that- Right Click The Wireless Network Connection
need a constant connection is frustrating to sayIcon Located Bottom Right Next To Your Date
the least. I work primarily from home, the officeTime On The Taskbar...Choose "View Available
is located in the basement, but it is directly belowWireless Networks"
the main internet connection point, which you- When The Wireless Connection Window
would think wouldn't be experiencing theAppears...Under Related Tasks...Choose "Change
numerous issues I was having.Advance Settings"
After shopping online for a suitable replacement, I- When The Wireless Network Connection
came across some positive reviews for many ofProperties Window Appears...Choose The Wireless
the TP-Link Wireless products. They are theNetworks Tab...And Then Checkbox The "Use
number 1 market share leader in China, (whichWindows To Configure My Wireless Network
does speak volumes) and are fully tech supportedSettings"
by Dynapower USA, located in the good old US- You Will Get A Small Hiccup In Your Connection,
of A. The awards they have won were from(It Will Automatically Reconnect) But Completing
reputable magazines like PC Format, PC World andThese Steps Will Ensure That Everytime,
PC Magazine so I was easily able to make the(Addendum, There Are Steps That I Didn't
decision to try and find an authorized dealer inOriginally Consider, Read The Next Bullet Point)
North America.You Reboot Your Machine And The First Thing
After making the online purchase, (worthy toThat Windows Will Do Will Be To Connect To
note, that it arrived 4 days later) I got to workYour Wireless Network. (Handy For Those That
doing the install. Just to give a little backgroundRun Internet Needed Applications On Start-Up)
information on the system I was using, it is a- If You Are Using A Computer That Allows
Windows XP SP2, and the wireless router that IExternal Program Access, There Is A New Step.
connect to is a D-Link DI-524 DWL-G122 PackageUsing The "Start" Tab At The Bottom Of Your
DWL-922C Wireless Air Plus G (never had anyScreen, Click It And Select "Run...". Type In
issues with this product at all, very easy set-up)."msconfig" Into The Window And Hit "Enter".
The box contained the usual items needed, a- Select The "Startup" Tab On The "System
set-up disk (mini-cd), easy to understandConfiguration Utility" Window That Pops Up, And
instructions (well written in English), and theFind The TWCU entry. Unclick It And Reboot.
product itself. (Another of note, at the bottom of(When The Windows Warning Pops Up, Tell It To
the box there was a free USB extender similar toIngnore The Change And Never Remind You
a cradle which I didn't notice at first, so keep thisAgain) This Will Ensure That Only Windows Has
in mind) Basically the installation was easy, and IControl Over Your Wireless Connection Without
will also walk you though it.Unneeded 3rd Party Applications.
- Set Up Restore Point (I'm Cautious)- Reboot Your Machine And Test It Out.
- Plug In USB AdapterI have had the TP Link Wireless USB Adapter
- Cancel The Windows XP Autoinstall (It Thinksinstalled for just over 3 weeks (Since 12-03-07)
The Product Is Something Else)and I haven't had a connection issue since. It has
- Place The Mini CD In The Drivebuilt in eXtender technology, which is excellent for
- VERY Carefully Choose The Folder For Thethose far away from there Wireless Router, but
Product Code You Boughton top of that, as I said above, a 3 foot
- Double Click The Set-Up File EXEeXtender connection was included. (I still haven't
- Choose To Install All Software (We Will Be Semineeded to use it)
Changing This After The Install Anyway)Overall this was a complete surprise to me and
- Reboot Your PC (I Do This After Every Newan excellent value for what I paid. It rivals other
Install)USB connectors that are 3 times the price and I
- The Configuration Software Will Start Andthink the only real negative thing I have to say
Automatically Gives You A List Of All Availableabout this product is the connection light is a
Networksbright flashing red, (like Rudolph The Red Nosed
- Choose The Network To Connect To And EnterReindeer) and I prefer the conventional green
In Your Network Settings (Most Are Detectedflashing (I'm old school).